Fence-making machine.



Patented Nov. ll, I902.

W. 0. KINCAID.

FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 19, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

THE nonms PETERS co, morouwou WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVALTER C. KINOAID, OF MOBERLY, MISSOURI.

FENCE-MAKING MACHINE.

PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,452, dated November 11, 1902 Application filed November 19, 1901. Serial No. 82,943. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWALTER O. KINOAID, a citizen of the United States, residing at Moberly, in the county of Randolph and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to connect the spreaders with the machine proper so that a certain angle of the lengthwise wires is attained at all times and the angle being such that the spreaders are forced ahead,which will assist the machine in its forward movement on the lengthwise wires.

The further object of this invention is to construct a fence-making machine in which the upper portion can be removed when it is desired to build a low fence and in the various details of construction hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my complete machine. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the machine, showing its connection with the running-wires of the fence. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the upper twister-head and its support. Fig. at is a top view of the stretcher, a portion in section. Fig. 5 is an edge View of the stretcher, a portion in section. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of one of the twister-heads and its connection with the spreader. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of one of the twister-heads and its connection with a spreader. Figs. 8 and 9 are representations of the guide-support for the frame of the machine. Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the reel and its shaft. Fig. 11 shows the adjustment of the gage.

The machine is made up of a main frame and a series of twister-heads, spreaders, and stretchers, and it will be necessary to describe only the construction of each and their combination with each other to get a clear understanding of the full construction. The main frame comprises the vertical I-bar 1, having its center flange provided with holes 2. To

this bar 1 are secured a series of brackets forming supports for the twister-heads. One of these brackets supporting a single twisterhead is shown in horizontal section, Fig. 3, and comprises the side plates 3 and 4, having a conformation to fit within the recessed faces of the vertical bar 1 and held in connection therewith by the bolt 5. these side plates come together and are provided with a hole or holes for the reception of a bolt 6. The single brackets are spaced along the vertical bar 1, and a strip 7, having a series of holes 8, connects the free ends of the side plates. Each of the side plates has an opening within which is located the twisterhead. Side plates 9 and 10 have openings for fou r twister-heads and are connected together and permanently secured to the lower end of the vertical bar 1. Above this lower combination-bracket are secured side plates 11 and 12, having their free ends connected to a strip 13, and the lower end of this strip 13 is connected to the upper end of the lower bracket. These side plates have openings for the reception of three twister-heads. Between the lower combination-bracket and the bracketsupporting the three twister-heads is located a single bracket 14, connected to the vertical bar 1 and strip 13. All of the twister-head supports, with the exception of the lower series of four, are vertically adjustable in connection with their supports, so as to vary the distance between them in order that the running-wires of the fence can be placed closer together or farther apart. All of the twisterheads are the same so far as the twister portion is concerned. Some have a sprocketwheel in connection therewith, some have a gear-wheel, others a sprocket-wheel and gearwheel, and another has a combined spur and bevel gear-wheel. The twister-head in the main comprises the tubular portion 15, having two lengthwise-extending plates 16 and a center division 17 between the plates. Two rods 18 are located at the opposite end of the tubular portion and extend parallel with the plates 16. The twister-heads for the single brackets have sprocket-wheels 19, forming a part thereof. The top and bottom twisterheads of the series of three and the top and the third from the top twister-heads of the series of four each have a sprocket-wheel 20 and spur toothed wheel 21. The center twister-head of the series of three has a spurtoothed wheel 22 and a beveled toothed wheel 23, and the lower twister-head of the series of four has a spur-toothed wheel 24. The center toothed wheel of the series of three The free ends of meshes with the other toothed wheels of the the drive-chain 27.

series, and the toothed wheels of the series of four gear together, forming a train. A chain belt 25 passes over the sprocket-wheel of the top twister-head, inside the next lower, outside the next lower, inside the next lower, and around the top sprocket-wheel of the series of three twisterheads up inside the twister-heads. Two rollers 26, supported by two of the brackets supporting single twisterheads, serve to hold the chain free of the sprocket-wheels. A chain belt 27 passes around the lower sprocket-wheel of the lower twister-head of the series of three twisterheads, inside the sprocket-wheel of the single twister-head,outside of the three sprocketwheels of the series of four twister-heads, and up inside the twister-heads. Two rollers 28 serve to hold the chain free of the sprocketwheels. A bevel-pinion 29 is connected to a shaft 30, and the shaft is supported in a bearing 31, and a crank 32 has a connection with the shaft. The pinion 29 meshes with the beveled toothed wheel 23 of the center twister-head of the series of three. As the crank is revolved the three spur toothed wheels of the series of three twister-heads will be revolved, which will, through the chain-belt connection, revolve all the other twister-heads, with the exception of the bot tom one, and the third from the bottom will be revolved through the gear connection, and the gear connection between the various twister-heads of the series of four will assist A handle-bar 33 is secured to the vertical bar 1 and the top and bottom side bars supporting the three twisterheads. Aguide-rod 34 has a connection with one of the side bars supporting the three twister-heads and is made adjust-able in its lengthwise direction and held when adjusted by the screw 35.

To the inner face of the vertical bar 1 is secured three blocks 36, each having a central opening and a set-screw. Three rods 37 are connected with the three blocks 36 and held by the set-screws. These rods connect with a guide-support. (Shown at Figs. 8 and 9.) This guide-support comprises an angle-plate 38, having a series of lengthwise slots 39 in one face and a series of holes 40 in the other face. Three guide-eyes 41 have a connection with the angle-plate by a tubular screw 42. The inner ends of the guide-eyes rest against the opposite face of the angle-bar, thereby holding them at right angles to the angle-bar. A plate 43 has a curved slot 44, and a thumbscrew 45, passing through the slot, enters one of the holes 40 and clamps the plate in connection with the angle-bar. From the plate 43 extend three sockets 46, each having a setscrew 47, and the three rods 37 enter these sockets and are clamped in connection therewith by the set-screws. A wire-stretcher (shown in detail at Figs. 4 and 5) comprises the shank portion 48, having the branches 49, which support a shaft 50. A ratchet-wheel 51 is a part of the shaft, and a dog 52, pivotally connected with one of the branches, engages the teeth of the ratchet. The shaft has a central opening 53, and a spool 54 is located on the shaft and has portions 55 dented into the opening, thereby forming a connection between the spool and shaft, so that both will revolve together. The shank portion has a series of projections 56 and a half-projection 57 extending therefrom. The upper face of the free end of the shank portion has serrations 58 and a stud 59. An adjustable section 60 has its under face provided with serrations 61 and has a slot 62. A half-projection 63 extends from the outer end of the adjustable section. This adjustable section is placed in connection with the shank portion of the stretcher by the stud 59,passing through the slot 62, and a Washer 64 holds the parts together in a manner to permit the lengthwise adjustment of the adjustable section. The dotted line in Fig. 5 suggests the adjustment of the adjustable section.

A wire-spreader is shown in detail at Figs. 6 and 7 and comprises the plates 65 and 66, held separated by the studs 67. Two grooved rollers 68 are located between the plates, and their trunuions 69 are located in slots 70. These plates have extensions 71, each provided with a lengthwise slot 72. A loose connection is formed between the spreader and twister-head and comprises the rod 73, having a cross 74 at one end and a longer cross 75 at the other end. The cross 74 is turned so that its ends may enter the slots 72 of the spreader, and the cross-bar 75 is placed between the rods 18 of the twister-head and turned crosswise thereof, as shown in the drawings,and is held in position by the lengthwise wires of the fence. Two lengthwise wires 76 are employed for each twister-head and are secured at one end to a post. They are threaded through the openings in the twister-head, as shown at Fig. 7. The other ends of these wires are placed in engagement with the projection of the stretcher, and a wire 77 is placed through the opening in the shaft of the stretcher and the shaft turned until the wires are taut. The lengthwise wires are placed through the eyes 41 of the guide-support and the support adjusted so that the frame supporting the twister-heads stands vertical. The spreaders are placed in connection with the lengthwise wires.

The twister-heads are rotated the required number of revolutions which will twist the two lengthwise wires together. A stay or vertical wire is placed between the lengthwise wires close to the twist and the machine brought back against the stay, thereby forcing it up close into the twist. The twisterheads are then revolved in the opposite direction a numberof times to give the proper distance between the stays, when another stay is placed in position, and so on until the fence is completed. The gage 34 is used to indicate the distance between the stays and is adjustable. The spreader is held in connection with the twister-heads, and the connection can be removed so that the spreader and heads can come closer together in nearing the end of the fence.

The curved slot 44 in the plate 43 of the guide-support enables the machine and support to be set in a vertical direction should the fence be on a hillside, and by means of the adjustable eyes 41 they can be moved to adapt themselves to the lengthwise wires.

By means of the adjustable section of the stretcher the projections thereof can be moved so as to change the distance to the next projection, thereby varying the tension exerted on the lengthwise wires. The spool of the stretcher prevents the wire from crowding in the openings through which the shaft passes.

WVhen it is desired to build a low fence, the upper four twister-heads can be removed, also their driving-chain, by removing the bolts connecting the side plates with the vertical bar 1 and detaching the strip 7 at its lower end, which will make the machine much lighter and not top-heavy. By extending the divisions 16 of the twister-heads flush with the end of the head the stay-wire will havea bearing closer to the lengthwise wires and a shorter stay can be used, which will leave a shorter top end; also in using a smooth stay the force used in driving the stay into position between the lengthwise wires will cause the stay to be crimped at the point where the lengthwise wires cross the stay, which will prevent same from slipping on each other.

I claim as my invention 1. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a main supporting-bar, a series of twistenhead-supporting brackets removably secured to the bar, and a sectional strip connecting the free ends of the brackets.

2. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a main supporting-bar, a series of brackets connected to the bar each supporting a twister-head, a series of three twisterheads geared together, the center one having abeveled gear and the others having sprocketwheels, a beveled pinion meshing with the gear, and chain belts passing over the sprocket-wheel and driving the other twisterheads.

3. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a main supporting-bar, a series of brackets removably secured to said bar, twister-heads supported by said brackets, means for driving the twister-heads, and a sectional strip connecting the brackets, the construction being such that a section of said strip and one or more of said brackets and twister-heads may be removed to convert the machine from one adapted to construct high fences to one for making fences of less height.

t. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, a twister-head, a spreader,and means for holding the spreader in advance of the twister-head loosely connected thereto.

5. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, a twisterhead, a spreader arranged in advance of the twisterhead, and a loose connection between the spreader and twister head whereby the spreader is free to move laterally in all directions.

6. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, a twister-head, a spreader arranged in advance of the twisterhead, and a link loosely connected at its opposite ends to the twister-head and spreader respectively.

7. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a twister-head having two bars eX- tending across one end, a spreader having two lengthwise slots, and a connecting-link having a cross-bar at each end.

S. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a main frame supporting twisterheads, a guide-support, rods connecting the frame and guide-support, the guide-support in two sections and adjustably connected.

9. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a main frame supporting twisterheads, a guidesupport, rods connecting the frame and guide-support, the guide-support in two sections, one section having a curved lengthwise slot and adjustably connected with the other-section.

10. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a main frame supporting twisterheads, a guide-support, rods connecting the frame and guide-support, and a series of eyes having an adjustable connection with the guide-support.

11. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a main frame supporting twisterheads, a guide-support, rods connecting the frame and guide-support, the guide-support provided with a lengthwise slot, and eyes having an adjustable connection therewith.

12. In a fence-making machine, a wirestretcher comprising a shank having a series of side projections, and a section having an adjustable connection therewith.

13. In a fence-making machine, a wirestretcher comprising a shank having a series of side projections and a serrated face, and a section having a serrated face adjustably connected with the shank.

14:. In a fence-making machine, a wirestretcher comprising a shank portion having side projections and two branches, a shaft supported by the branches and having a central opening, and a spool located between the branches and connected to the shaft.

15. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a twister-head, a spreader, and a link forming a loose connection between the spreader and head.

16; In a fence-making machine, the combination of atwister-head, a spreader,and a link forming a connection between the spreader and head and havinga detachable connection with the spreader.

17. In afence-making machine, the combination of a twister-head, a spreader, and a link forming a connection between the spreader and head and having a detachable connection with the head.

18. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, a twister-head, aspreader arranged in advance of the twisterhead, and a link connected at one end with the spreader and having lateral extensions at its other end, said extensions having a connection with the twister-head.

19. In a fence-making machine, the combination of asnpporting-frame, a twister-head, aspreader arranged in advance of the twisterhead, and a link having lateral extensions at its opposite ends, said extensions being connected respectively to the spreader and twister-head.

20. In a fence-making machine, the combination of a supporting-frame, a twister-head,

WALTER C. KINCAID.

Witnesses:

A. O. BEHEL, E. BEHEL. 

